That's interesting. Yeah, I've always viewed the Star Wars droids as a sort of stand-in or allegory for slavery/exploited servant class in the real world. And I have very real feelings toward C3P0, R2, BB8, etc. I may not like all of them and certainly not to the same degree, but I definitely feel things for the droids. Especially R2. That little guy would easily be on my own personal Mount Rushmore of Star Wars characters.

But if that's not something you connect with, then it makes sense that you also struggle a bit with Rey from the starting line.

Clearly within the movie we are expected to think about droids as having feelings and emotions and being quasi people (Jaba tortures them, for instance). Luke refers to R2 as a friend (as does Poe with BB8). Some develop distinctive personalities.

regarding rey and BB8, Rey is established early on as very food insecure, and there isn't much in her current line of work that a droid would be useful for. His value to Rey is basically entirely in his resale value (and Rey is a scavenger - this would be a major prize for her). She chooses not to, despite an obvious cost to herself, because she sees him as vulnerable and in need of protection. There are other nurturing instincts we see prior to that - allowing him to come back with him so he can be escorted to that outpost, giving him directions, freeing him from another scavenger (but not claiming him as her own - and in in that scene she refers to the other scavengers lack of respect for people), fixing his bent antenna.

That Rey does all this for a droid (which are largely intelligent, occasionally self aware slaves) actual speaks more to her character than if she was helping a human - it requires a larger leap of empathy on the part of the protagonist, one that others might not have made (would Han have cared, for instance?).

You may not personally feel any particular connection to machines, Anders (why would you?), but within universe we are expected to feel it (or characters are) and their interactions with them can and should tell us something about their personality, values, etc.

I really enjoyed him on my last viewing. The only bit I don't like is when Jyn gives him the gun (why wouldn't she) and they share that ' you consistently surprise me' exchange or whatever the actual line is. That feels unearned - like they were trying to create a moment. Why even bother? That should have been Cassian's moment since they had a prior relationship and he has obviously withheld weapons from him in the past

K2SO never clicked for me. With the exception of his final moments, he's my least favorite part of R1. And I adore Alan Tudyk. But K2 just didn't work for me the way he did for others. 3PO is the only major droid that I like less than K2.

I agree about Blaze and Chirrut. Though, it doesn't bother me per se. Not every character should be or needs to be as completely developed as every other. They are well drawn sketches and add to the overall tone and theme. They are pleasant additions to the film.

I’d say they’d both have the most potential to have the most interesting backstory. I know you can’t do that in a film so overladen with characters but even a moment when they’re in hyperspace on the way to edu, chirrut or baze explaining what they as guardians of the whills were and the role the performed would have been something.

It’s literally boiled down to one or two lines ‘are you Jedi? / no only dreamers like this fool’ It’s thrown away when they could be given some gravitas and show a natural alignment of those two, with the cause of the rebellion. Could have been done in a couple of lines.

Where are the whills now? Did the empire take them and destroy them? Anything.

Last edited by dimejinky99 on Mon January 15, 2018 9:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Very important to remember droids in Star Wars are seen as merely utensils. We attach feelings to them and while they appear to have feelings and stress and worry that’s not at all how they’re seen in universe by anyone. No more than you care about your microwaves feelings.

Across all 8 films they’re depicted as and treated as mere utensils to get things done and serve a function. Characters here and there have atatchements and fondness for an R2 or K2 but far more often they’re treated and spoken to within their station as droids there to serve a purpose. Leia does it to 3PO in TLJ. Han is outright dismissive of them all the way through the OT. Why would Obi wan not remember having a droid? Do you rememebr the kettle you had in college?

Let’s not apply any moral standpoints on the droid thing. They don’t belong there. It’s not ‘slavery’. If it is take your iPhone out and give it a back massage now and then.

I can't disagree with you more. C3PO, R2D2, BB8, K2SO, ... these are all droids with sentience, moral framework, and personality. Han's dismissal of C3PO is a character flaw on Han's part, not a sign of lack of concern by all individuals. Chewie fought to save C3PO as fervently as he fought for Han in ESB. C3PO and R2D2 were on the stage and recognized for their role in the Battle of Yavin. BB8 clearly has emotions. Watch his loyalty to Rey and Poe. K2SO is clearly selfish throughout R1, only learning selflessness and giving his life for the cause.

Droids may be made as utensils, but they can clearly move beyond their lowly station.

I can't disagree with you more. C3PO, R2D2, BB8, K2SO, ... these are all droids with sentience, moral framework, and personality. Han's dismissal of C3PO is a character flaw on Han's part, not a sign of lack of concern by all individuals. Chewie fought to save C3PO as fervently as he fought for Han in ESB. C3PO and R2D2 were on the stage and recognized for their role in the Battle of Yavin. BB8 clearly has emotions. Watch his loyalty to Rey and Poe. K2SO is clearly selfish throughout R1, only learning selflessness and giving his life for the cause.

Droids may be made as utensils, but they can clearly move beyond their lowly station.

I’m not dismissing them at all, some of my favourite Star Wars are the droids. I’m talking about how they’re viewed and treated in universe by the other characters in the story.

*Poe is the first character we see in the saga that actually has a caring relationship with his droid. That said it’s still like master/puppy. Anakin has an episode in clone wars where he goes on a mission to rescue or retrieve R2 who is lost but even that isn’t out of any equal respect, it’s because the droid knows too much and he’s his pal. Kind of.